Cruise destinations from Cut Price Cruises

DESTINATIONS - Hawaii

Why go there?

To watch whales birthing and raising their young; soar by helicopter over fiery volcanoes, jagged mountains, verdant rainforests and turquoise seas, and enjoy some of the world's best beaches.

No wonder Hawaii has enjoyed an explosion in tourism in recent years - cruise visitor numbers have grown from 32,000 in 1990 to nearly 800,000 in 2003.

Why cruise there?

Hawaii is an expensive place to get around any other way, and some of the main population centres (especially Honolulu) are highly commercialised; in Honolulu, for example, you will find malls and ABC stores selling identical goods on virtually every street corner.

Travelling by ship offers more variety, better value and a comfortable haven after a day ashore.

When would I go, what will the weather be like and what should I pack?

The Hawaiian Islands are sunny, balmy and temperate year-round, though rainfall is lower in the summer months. Take beachwear, light cotton clothing and an umbrella.

What are the options?

The main operator to Hawaii is Norwegian Cruise Line, which has the new Pride of Aloha joining Norwegian Wind there this winter. NCL offers a selection of cruises ranging in duration from ten to 13, 14 and 18 nights.

Most cruises operate round-trip from Honolulu (the 18-night "Journey to Fire and Ice" itinerary operates from Seattle to Honolulu and includes Alaska).

Ports of call include Hilo (famed for its lush landscape and dramatic volcano); Kona (home to a magnificent National Historic Park and coffee plantations); Maui (popular with golfers) and Kouoi, Hawaii's ‘garden island' celebrated for its spectacular multi-coloured Waimea Canyon.

Apart from NCL and Crystal Cruises - which ran a short series of intro-island cruises from Honolulu in 2004 - most companies offering Hawaii itineraries do so on longer itineraries operating from the US West Coast.

What to do ashore?

Shore excursion options include tours to Pearl Harbor, visits to national parks, helicopter sightseeing trips, whale-watching expeditions and hikes through tropical rainforests.

Which cruise lines go there?

Operators include

What type of traveller goes there?

Frankly, Hawaii is too far away for people who simply want a beach-oriented holiday, but it will go down well with lovers of natural beauty and wildlife and those committed to long-haul, exotic destinations.

Flights to Honolulu can include stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or New York, so Hawaii cruises are a good option for people who want to combine a US city stopover with an exotic cruise.